Coin holder

ABSTRACT

A coin holder comprised of two halves which are assembled to define an enclosure for the coin. Each of the halves has mutually facing means for engaging the perimeter of a coin and positioning the coin within the coin holder.

D United States Patent 1191 1111 3,782,537 Segel Jan. 1, 1974 COIN HOLDER 1,498,245 6/1924 Le May 206/46 H 2,481,095 9/1949 Essman 1 1 220/8 [75] Inventor. Joseph M. Segel, Mer10n, Pa- 1,924,810 8/1933 Schulz 206/52 S [73] Assignee: The Franknn Mint, Inc" Franklin 2,486,711 11/1949 Harris .1 206/46 FC Center, Pa.

[22] Filed: Jan. 5, 1972 Primary Examiner-William T. Dixson, Jr.

At: -Ath H.S'd1 t 1. 21 App1.N0.: 215,597 r e a [52] US. Cl. 2116/.82, 220/8 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl... A45c 11/00, B65d 85/02, B65d 85/54 [58] Field of Search 206/.82, .83, .84, A Coin holder comprised of two halves which are 206/52 R, 52 F, 52 S, 46 FC, 46 H, 79; sembled to define an enclosure for the coin. Each of 220/42 8 the halves has mutually facing means for engaging the perimeter of a coin and positioning the coin within the [56] References Cited coin holder UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,457,998 1/1949 Hayes et a1. 206/79 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures COIN HOLDER DISCLOSURE This invention relates to coin holders.

The coin holder described herein can be made of two clear plastic halves which may be assembled to form a unitary coin holder. Because of their construction the halves may be readily assembled and disassembled to permit the coin being held to be changed. The coin holder halves may be made of molded plastic with coin positioning means formed integrally with the halves so that a coin may be guided and held in a predetermined position in the holder.

Generally, the invention relates to a coin holder comprising first and second members which are to lie along opposite sides of the coin to be displayed. Means are provided for holding the members in spaced relation to define a coin receiving recess. Mutually facing, inwardly directed means are supported by the members. The mutually facing, inwardly directed means define at least a portion of the perimeter of a coin which is to be received within the coin receiving recess.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown and wherein:

FIG. I is a plan view of a device constructed in accordance with a presently preferred form of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a detail of a portion of the device shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the device.

Now referring to the drawings for a detail description of the invention, a coin holder is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. As seen in FIG. 1, the coin holder is generally circular in appearance so that its outline corresponds to the outline of the coin held therein. However, the configuration of the coin holder 10 is not critical to its function. Hence, it could be of any convenient configuration.

As seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, the coinholder comprises a top member 14 and a bottom member 16. Top member 14 comprises a substantially flat member which may be circular in shape as indicated above and which has a perimeter 22. A flange 24 is supported by flat member 20 at its perimeter.

In like manner, the bottom member 16 includes a flat member 28 which may also be circular in configuration and which has a flange 30 supported on its perimeter 32.

The top member 14 and the bottom member 16 may be assembled as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 to define a coin receiving recess 36. Assembly of the top member and the bottom member is achieved because flange 30 on the bottom member 16 can be slidingly and telescopically received within aforementioned flange 24 on top member 14. Each of the flat members 20 and 28 include mutually facing inwardly directed means which are adapted to lie along a substantial portion of the perimeter of a coin which is held in the coin receiving recess 36. Preferably, the aforementioned means comprises ridges 40 and 42. The ridges 40 and 42 divide members 20 and 28 into first and second coplanar surfaces 50, 52 and 54, 56 with the first surfaces 50, 54 being surrounded by the second surfaces 52, 56.

As best seen in FIG. 4, the ridges may be formed integrally with the respective top and bottom members 16 and may be spaced inwardly from aforementioned flanges 24 and 32.

A coin 46 may be retained within the coin holder 10 by being confined against movement by ridges 40 and 42. Since the ridges are spaced inwardly from flanges 24 and 30, the space on each of the flat members between the respective ridges and their flanges serves as a frame 34 for the coin.

In a preferred embodiment, both the top member 14 and the bottom member 16 of the coin holder are made of a transparent elastic material which can be readily molded to the configuration disclosed above to thereby permit both sides of the coin to be viewed. While the invention has been described with reference to one form thereof, it is apparent that many other forms and embodimentswill be obvious to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Thus, the scope of the invention should not be limited by that description, but rather, only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A coin holder comprising top and bottom members, each of said members comprising substantially flat first and second surfaces, said first and second surfaces being substantially coplanar and said first surface being surrounded by said second surface, the juncture of said first and second surfaces on each of said members comprising mutually facing substantially perimetric ridges defining at least a portion of the perimeters of a coin, each of said second surfaces comprising mutually facing flanges, and one of said flanges being telescopically received within the other when a coin is supported in said coin holder.

2. A coin holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said second substantially flat surfaces define a frame for a coin around said perimetric ridges.

3. A coin holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said ridges and flanges are integral with "their respective first and second members.

a a =l= =I t f 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent R0. '7 82 5 37 I Deted J fy :lg

Inventofls) Se gel It eertifie d that ertor appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shownbelow:

In the'heading of this patent at itein 31' delete: "The Franklin Mint, Inc." and substitute therefor Franklin Mint Corporation Signed "and sealed this 2nd day of July 1974 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M. FLETCHERJR. V c .MARS HA LL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents F M P0-105Q(10-69) uscoMM-Dc 603754 09 t .5, GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: |969O-3G-33 

1. A coin holder comprising top and bottom members, each of said members comprising substantially flat first and second surfaces, said first and second surfaces being substantially coplanar and said first surface being surrounded by said second surface, the juncture of said first and second surfaces on each of said members comprising mutually facing substantially perimetric ridges defining at least a portion of the perimeters of a coin, each of said second surfaces comprising mutually facing flanges, and one of said flanges being telescopically received within the other when a coin is supported in said coin holder.
 2. A coin holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said second substantially flat surfaces define a frame for a coin around said perimetric ridges.
 3. A coin holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said ridges and flanges are integral with their respective first and second members. 